Dear Campers, AMUS"H

(u"f wd) vzv rcsc sug hkt rcs ;xu, kt lk cr hkt 'v rnthu

(s"n wd"n wc"n) ktrah hbc hbpk van oa rat vru,v ,tzu 'ufu hbcutrk rahnv .rtc rcsnc rmc ,t 'ufu jmur vna xbk

(z"y wc) lum ratf lnt ,tu lhct ,t scf

'ufu lbck o,bbau lcck kg ouhv lumn hfbt rat vktv ohrcsv uhvu

('v w'u) 'ufu lcck kfc lheukt 'v ,t ,cvtu

The philosophers ask: How is it possible to command a person to love someone? This is a natural emotion dependant of the person's inner feelings.

Walk into any Yeshiva Beis Hamidrash during seder and chances are you will hear a heated discussion over a geshmake Ketzos. Or you might see a talmid deeply engrossed in a deep Shmaatsa. Then again a Rosh Yeshiva will deliver a lengthy shiur on a kashya of the Avnei Miluim. The three seforim Ketzos Hachoshen, Shav Shmaatsa and Avnei Miluim were all written by one author the great gaon R' Aryeh Leib Hacohen Heller. They are three of the pillars that add so much to the world of the yeshiva. It is unusual that an individual should be zoche to even one sefer, which is so widely acclaimed... let alone three. Undoubtedly such a person is one of rare caliber, and there is much we can learn from him. Let us take a glimpse at the life of this great tzaddik.

The Steipler Gaon ZTVK"L recounted a story that he heard in his youth from the Chofetz Chaim. When R' Aryeh Leib's father R' Yosef was of marriageable age a shidduch was proposed to his father R' Yechiel Mechel. The girl was certainly fit to marry a young budding talmid chochom, and she came from a family of sterling qualities. There was only one problem. Both families had no money to support the new couple. What would they live on?

R' Yichel Mechel went to R' Chaim Tzanzer (not to be confused with R' Chaim Sanzer the Divrei Chaim), a great Gaon and Mekubel in his time, to ask for advice. Should he look for a rich shidduch or go through with this one, not knowing where parnasa would come from.

R' Chaim suggested that they go through with this shidduch. As far as support... the family of the chosson should continue feeding him as they did until now. The same goes for the kallah. Both sides accepted this suggestion. It is from this union between R' Yosef and his kallah that the great R' Aryeh Leib came.

The family lived in Kalish, Galicia. R' Yosef was one of three great Kohanim that lived in the city. The other were R' Shimon Hacohen, and R' Binyomin Rapaport. R' Binyomin revealed in a drosho a frightening dream that he had. There was a terrible decree from shomayim passed against the Jews of Kalish. The only way it would be repealed is if the three Kohanim are taken as korbanos. Indeed within a period of five weeks all of them were niftar before their time.

R' Yosef, and his wife were blessed with four children... all of them great talmaidei chachomim. The oldest was R' Yehuda Hacohen, author of the famous Kuntres Hasfeikos and Trumas Hakri. The second was R' Chaim a great talmid chochom mentioned in his brothers' seforim. The third was R' Aryeh Leib the most famous brother. The fourth was R' Mordechai, at first a Rov who later went into business, and supported his brothers.

Once the mother was not well, and stayed at the home of her youngest son to recuperate. The other three brothers came to be mevaker choleh their mother. At their mother's bedside a Torah conversation started which developed into a spirited argument. This one asked... another one answered... a third disproved the answer. After a while the youngest brother who was in business won the argument. His elderly mother stood up on her bed and started dancing with joy. She was happy that her son the businessman, who was not in the Beis Midrash a whole day, was able to maintain his greatness in learning.

R' Aryeh Leib learned Torah amidst poverty. For awhile his brother, R' Mordechai, supported him. After he lost his business, R' Aryeh Leib was left without support. He continued to learn with the same hasmodoh as he always did. The table he learned on was a long wooden board placed on top of two barrels.

In the winter R' Aryeh Leib had to learn under his blankets. Because he was so poor he couldn't afford wood to heat the house. It is said that he had to write his chiddushim under the covers so that the ink shouldn't freeze. It is from this frost that the flame of Torah, emanating from the Ketzos was ignited.

Because of his strict adherence to halocho, R' Aryeh Leib was against Chassidim who often had customs based on kaboloh. After an incident where the Chassidim in his city did not act according to the halocho he put them in cheirem. They decided that during the period of cheirem they would go to their rebbe the Chozeh of Lublin.

They were disappointed to learn that their rebbe would not talk to them until they appeased R' Aryeh Leib. "But he is against Chassidim," they countered. "Yes," said the Chozeh, "but he is still the Godol Hador in Torah and must be respected as such."

Although he was a misnagid he had a close relationship with R' Yitzchok Aizik Eichenstien, founder of the Komarner Chassidus. R' Yitzchok Aizik was a great gaon and frequently came to discuss difficult topics of Torah with R' Aryeh Leib. The Ketzos enjoyed those visits as well as the visits of the Komarner Rebbe's son R' Tzvi also a great gaon. It is interesting that two of R' Aryeh Leib's grandchildren, both great in Torah, were part of the Chassidic movement.

Letter of Recommendation

R' Aryeh Leib went to Hamburg, Germany to receive a haskomoh from the rov R' Tzvi Hirsch one of the gedolim of that time. When he gave the rov a copy of his chiddushim the rov said: "After R' Yonason Eybshutz wrote his sefer Urim Vtumim, I can't believe anybody can add anymore explanation to Choshen Mishpot. Nevertheless, wait here a few days, and I will look through your sefer." After looking through the sefer R' Tzvi Hirsch realized that here was a masterpiece that would revolutionize Seder Nezikin.

The next day, R' Aryeh Leib was in the beis hamedrosh learning. He heard noise outside. A Hachnosos Sefer Torah, and a large crowd was gathering. The rov was carrying the Sefer Torah. When R' Aryeh Leib got closer to kiss the Torah the rov lifted the covering to reveal the Sefer Ketzos Hachoshen underneath. The rov brought the sefer under a chupah to the sound of music, singing and dancing. Needless to say, the rov wrote a letter of recommendation.

It is interesting to note that R' Naftoli Amsterdam the great talmid of R' Yisroel Salanter would have a special chavrusa every Motzaei Shabbos to learn the Sefer Ketzos Hachoshen. The Admor R' Yeshoshua of Belz told his grandson the young prodigy Aharon (who later became the Belzer Rebbe), "I want you to understand the ways of the Torah. Learn Sefer Ketzos Hachoshen and write down your questions on the Sefer."

R' Chaim Halberstam the Sanzer Rebbe learned Ketzos Hachoshen on Rosh Hashono before Tekias Shofar. He explained that even though the sefer deals with matters of Torah that are niglah, revealed, the sefer corresponds with the hidden part of Torah, kabbalah, which is appropriate to learn before Tekias Shofar.

The Sanzer Rebbe also said on a different occasion: The reason why the sefer was so widely accepted amongst all circles because R' Aryeh Leib's learning was with tremendous Yiras Shomayim. Before he would start learning he would close himself off in a room privately. There he would do teshuva with heartfelt cries, and daven that he be fit to learn Hashem's Torah.

When the sefer came out his rebbe, R' Meshulem Igra of Tizmanitz, acquired it. In a few weeks he finished the whole sefer. A while later R' Aryeh Leib visited his rebbe and naturally they spoke in learning. Every time R' Meshulem posed a question and R' Aryeh Leib would think, the rebbe interjected, "This is probably the answer you are thinking of." He was absolutely correct. Throughout the course of the conversation after every kashya he was able to predict what this talmid was thinking of answering. R' Aryeh Leib felt bad. He told his rebbe: "Why should I toil in writing a second chelek to my sefer if the rebbe can write down in advance everything that I would think of?"

R' Meshulam appeased his talmid by saying: "The thought process of my answers is yours. By learning through your sefer I was able to figure out your thought process, and how you would answer every question." Nevertheless because he slighted his great talmid R' Meshulem fasted every Monday and Thursday for the rest of his life.

Holy Body

A talmid of R' Aryeh Leib recounted the following: R' Aryeh Leib was once bedridden, and could barely move. He asked this talmid if he could put a pair of socks on his feet. The talmid ran to get a pair. But the moment he put one sock on, R' Aryeh Leib started screaming in pain: "It stings, it stings!" The mortified talmid thinking there was a needle in the sock quickly removed it. He searched for the needle but found nothing. Again he put the sock on his rebbe's foot and again he screamed. The talmid checked again but to no avail. Later the talmid found that the sock was full of shatnez. This is what was stinging his rebbe. His body was so kadosh that it could not tolerate coming in contact with shatnez.

The power of speech is referred to by the Torah as a Peleh, a wondrous thing. No other creation in the world has the power of speech besides a human being. There is a reason for this. Animals, although they communicate, do not have any profound things to say. But a human is created to learn, to question, to teach others and to praise Hashem. For this, sounds alone will not do. A more sophisticated system of speech is necessary. Let us examine the immense Chochmo that Hashem used in creating our power of speech.

1. At the top of your windpipe is the larynx. It is the little box that holds your vocal chords.
2. The vocal chords are two ligaments (bands of rough tissue).
3. When you breathe gently, the air moves gently past the chords without producing a sound.
4. However, when you speak the vocal chords tighten. The air that passes between them causes them to vibrate, thereby producing sound.
5. The more pressure put into giving off the air the more the vocal chords will vibrate... thus producing a louder sound. When you raise your voice you are pushing air through the vocal chords with more pressure.
6. The vocal chords produce raw sound. This by itself is not speech. To refine the sound Hashem gave us lips, a tongue, the nasal tract, teeth and a palate to form the sound into words.
7. The positioning of the tongue in the mouth forms different pronunciations... as do the lips and teeth.
8. No two human beings in the world have the exact same voice.

The fact that the power of speech is so wonderful places a responsibility on us to use it for only good things... for true Avodas Hashem.

Another answer: Only Shabbos which is so great (Equal to the whole Torah) do we say that it should be done by yourself.

A few years after the fall of Napoleon, and the period of Emancipation (freedom to all nations) the Russians tried to return oppressive rule over its people. The Jews who for awhile felt the spirit of freedom now groaned under the yoke of the Russians. It is natural that when Klal Yisroel's situation is bad they place their hopes in Moshiach. Although we await Moshiach on a daily basis there is a danger of a false spirit of Messianism. Unfortunately, this has happened a number of times throughout our history. In Russia at this time it happened unexpectedly.

One day there appeared in Vilna a very distinguished looking man. He looked like a man of mid-eastern origin, very handsome, with a very sage like countenance. His face expressed wisdom. His long clothing of Asian mode was adorned with shiny silver buttons. His stature was tall and proud. His shiny shoes with silver buckles and his dignified walk added to his exotic look, and air of nobility.

It is understandable that he attracted attention. In no time he was the talk of Vilna. The news was passed from mouth to ear that his first stop in the vicinity was at the house of the mayor where he spent a few hours. Jews testified that when he left the mayor's mansion he looked for a Jewish inn with the highest standards of kashrus. Early the next morning a fancy horse drawn wagon picked him up and brought him to the mikva. From there he traveled to the big shul of Vilna for Shacharis.

In shul he ignited the people's curiosity. He davened with a sweet enchanting voice. The people in shul were mesmerized by his lengthy pleasant tefillos which included warmth, heartfelt sobs, and singing. He was a puzzle to the townsfolk and they began to figure out who he was. Wild rumors spread that he was one of the Aseres Hashvotim from the other side of the Sambatyon River. Others said that he was a messenger of some Asian king sent to the Russian Czar of a diplomatic mission, and that he would also plead before the Czar on behalf of the Jews. Every morning people from all corners of Vilna would flock to the central shul to get a glimpse of the man and watch him daven. It was said that the floor underneath him was wet from sweat and tears that flowed from him during his holy tefilloh.

The leaders of the Jewish community of Vilna and its dignitaries tried to meet privately with him, but he declined politely saying, "I am here for a few days to find out about its inner functions. In the interim I will receive important information from the Czar regarding my mission. Only then will I be able to meet personally with members of the kehilla." The mystery surrounding this person now deepened. The rumors about him changed by the hour. To many there was no doubt that he was Moshiach. Others were not yet convinced.

Some of the dignitaries of the city were graced by a surprise visit by this man. How lucky they felt. Those who were not privileged to meet with him could not contain their disappointment and jealousy. The conversations with him, however, left something to be desired. It was hard to get a straight answer from him. He spoke in riddles... hard to understand. They understood from him that it was hard to talk because of fear of the Czar, and that his mission here is for the benefit of Klal Yisroel. "It won't be long," he said, "before my mission will be accomplished, and then everything will be known to all." News of this man and his mission quickly traveled throughout Lithuania and it was on the lips of people everywhere. It was a foregone conclusion that great things would come from this mission. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air that happy days were just around the corner.

TO BE CONTINUED

The boy traveled throughout the Jewish cities and towns. Very often he had to withstand fierce weather conditions but this did not stop him. He was determined to find his roots no matter what it would take. Yes, there were times where he was overcome with loneliness and a fear that he would never find his real parents. But then he lifted his spirits, persevered, and moved on.

Wherever he went he drew the attention of people he came into contact with. He was blessed with a keen mind, and beautiful character traits. His story awakened feelings of pity amongst the townsfolk, and many tried to help him. His travels eventually brought him to the town of Zlotchev home of the great tzaddik R' Yechiel Mechel of Zlotchev. The tzaddik heard of the lad and his predicament, and he sent for the boy to appear before him. Immediately R' Yechiel Mechel was impressed with the boy. He told those close to him that the boy was like a diamond that fell into mud. After the mud is cleaned away the diamond will shine brightly.

The Rebbe hired rebbeim to teach the boy Torah and to guide him in matters of yiddishkeit. Because of his diligence in his learning and his ability to grasp new concepts the boy quickly blossomed into a true ben-Torah. After three years of learning he was able to prepare sharp pieces of Torah. When there was no one in Zlotchev advanced enough to teach the brilliant boy R' Yechiel Mechel imported a rebbe from the big city of Brody. Together they learned for a few years. During this time the Rebbe of Zlotchev taught the boy the basics of Kaboloh.

When the boy was seventeen years old the Rebbe of Zlotchev called him to his private chambers. "My son, you have one year left to the age of eighteen when one should get married. During this year you are to wander from place to place in Golus to purify yourself from the forbidden food you ate as a child."

The boy was visibly upset at this news. Not only would he have to leave his beloved Rebbe but he would have to suffer the discomfort of wandering again in places unfamiliar to him. But if the Rebbe said it, he would follow without questioning.

When the time came for the boy to leave, the Rebbe put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "My son, pay close attention to what I am telling you, and follow these instructions closely. Throughout the year you are to travel only eastward. Do not stay in any place more than one day, and do not reveal to anyone that you are a talmid chochom. At the end of the year you are to settle in the first place you are invited to stay. Then, after your status as a talmid chochom is revealed you are to accept the first shidduch offered to you." The Rebbe escorted the boy to the outskirts of the city. Then he gave the boy a small Kemea closed, and sewn up. He gave it to the young man, and said, "Put this into the flap of the corner of your talis koton. Don't open it, and don't read to till the day of your chupa. On the day you are married the Rov who is mesader kiddushin should read what's written in it."

The boy's eyes widened as he wondered what was in this mysterious Kemea. He put it into the corner flap of his talis koton. The tzaddik gave him a parting brocho. The boy fell on the Rebbe's shoulder choking on the sobs he tried holding back. The Golus had now begun.

It had been a very tough year. The boy had finally found a home in Zlotchev, and now he was back to wandering. Not a day went by that he didn't have to wander. He went on in rain, sleet, hail and snow. When it got difficult he pictured in his mind the saintly R' Yechiel Michel, his Rebbe. This alone warmed him up, and gave him the strength to continue. Day by day, week by week, month by month passed slowly. Finally the year was up.

On this day a deep snow covered the earth. The vicious cold weather chilled the marrow in his bones. On his face one could recognize signs of fatigue and restlessness. Yet deep within his heart there was happiness. He had finished his stint in Golus. He was now moving on to his future. His Rebbe's parting instructions were etched in his memory, and gave him hope.

As he plodded through the snow all he could see was a sea of white. Suddenly, from afar houses began to appear. It was a small isolated town. It seemed as if the town was asleep for the winter covered it with a blanket of snow. As he entered the town his eyes focused on a villa... two stories high. There was a sign on top of the door on Hebrew letters... "Village Inn." His heart pounded with anticipation.

He knocked nervously on the door. As it opened he felt as if he was overwhelmed by a wave of warmth. He wasn't sure if it was the heat of the stove or the warm heartfelt greetings of the innkeeper. Perhaps it was a combination of both. In any event the innkeeper quickly brought him to the warm fireplace... removed his snow-dampened clothing and brought him others. His wife brought a hot drink. Both husband and wife hovered over him until they were sure he was comfortably settled. Then they went back to their work telling him to call them if he needed something.

As he relaxed, sipping on his tea, his eyes took in the surroundings. These people were obviously rich. The house had beautifully embroidered curtains and paintings with Jewish themes. A spiral staircase went up to the second floor. It had a marble banister with exquisite designs on it. It was also a home with a spirit of Yiddishkeit. All around the room there were bookcases filled with seforim. Nearby at a table sat two teenage boys over a gemoroh... arguing in learning. What a nice pleasant place this was. If only he was welcome to stay here for awhile.

He listened in to the conversation between the boys. He was well acquainted with the sugya that they were learning, and understood right away that they had misinterpreted a Tosafos. "Forgive me for interrupting," he said, "but I think you have strayed away from the true point Tosafos is making." "On the contrary," they said in a challenging tone. "What is the true meaning here?" Immediately the stranger explained the Gomorrah according to the way Tosafos understood it. Now it was clear why Tosafos asked the question in such a manner.

At first the boys looked at the stranger with skepticism. But now with his brilliant explanation he gained their respect. They quickly ran to their father to tell him that his guest was a young talmid chochom. The father's eyes lit up. It wasn't everyday that they had the zechus of housing a talmid chochom. They all sat together for hours discussing Divrei Torah. The more they spoke the more they recognized the brilliance of this guest.

"Father, I can't think of a better rebbe for us that our guest. Perhaps you can invite him to stay with us and learn with us," said the older son. "An excellent idea," said the father. "It would be our greatest honor if you would stay with us, and teach my sons." "I would love to stay here," said the boy. Everyone in the household was thrilled with this new development.

TO BE CONTINUED